Tour & Activity Scams in Phuket, Thailand
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in Phuket — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Lombok, Palawan, and Mandalay.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
2
Tour & Activities Scams
10
Total in Phuket
How it works
Jet ski rental operators present tourists with large damage bills for pre-existing scratches when they return the equipment. Operators may be backed by local mafia and become threatening when tourists refuse to pay.
How it works
Unofficial tour desks in hotel lobbies or on beach roads sell excursions using glossy brochures. Boats may be overcrowded, unlicensed, or missing safety equipment. Some tours are cancelled last-minute with refunds never processed, and contact numbers go dead after payment.
See all scams in Phuket
10 total warnings across all categories